Bristow, NE Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Bristow, Boyd County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Bristow?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 52 days in the Boyd forecast zone and Boyd County — the most common reported hazard around Bristow, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (36 days) and high winds (19 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 52 | Feb 2023 | Apr 9, 2013 · $50,000 damage |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 36 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2, 1999 · $200,000 damage |
| High winds | 19 | Dec 2025 | Nov 1, 1997 · $20,000 damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 19 | Feb 2025 | — |
| Blizzards | 13 | Dec 2023 | Jan 4, 1997 · 1 death |
| Flash flooding | 9 | Jun 2023 | Mar 14, 2019 · 1 death · $12 million damage |
| Flooding | 3 | Mar 2019 | Mar 13, 2019 · $5.0 million damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 2 | Feb 2011 | — |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Boyd forecast zone and Boyd County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Bristow get?
A normal year brings about 31 inches of snow to Bristow, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Spencer 6 Sse weather station 4.5 miles away. The snowiest month is usually March (6.4 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 3.7 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Bristow?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 107 miles east-northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Bristow | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFSD Sioux Falls, SD | 107 mi east-northeast | 10,600 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KLNX North Platte, NE | 119 mi west-southwest | 12,500 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
| KOAX Omaha, NE | 155 mi southeast | 19,100 ft | Limited — the beam overshoots the lowest part of storms |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Bristow
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 63 tornadoes within 25 miles of Bristow, 14 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and May. The strongest was an F4 on May 29, 1962, which crossed near town. The most recent was an EF2 on July 28, 2025, which passed about 25 miles northwest of town.
Hail: 326 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 51 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 6.88-inch hail on August 21, 2007.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Bristow's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Bristow radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Bristow, NE?
KFSD (Sioux Falls, SD), about 107 miles east-northeast. KLNX (North Platte, NE) is 119 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Bristow?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Bristow the lowest scan from KFSD is about 10,600 ft up, so light snow from shallow clouds can be under-shown — check NWS winter alerts too.
Is TALON's radar for Bristow free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Bristow, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
- O'Neill, NE radar 26 mi
- Atkinson, NE radar 29 mi
- Creighton, NE radar 43 mi
- Plainview, NE radar 53 mi
- Neligh, NE radar 57 mi